Omicron variant of the coronavirus is now likely the dominant strain in Oregon, overtaking delta as the primary variant causing COVID-19 in the state, an Oregon Health Authority senior health adviser said last week. “We think Oregon is experiencing the same exponential increase that we’re seeing nationally,” Dr. Melissa Sutton said. As of last Tuesday, 13 specimens from Oregon infections were confirmed to be omicron, Sutton said.
“It’s transmitting through the community,” Sutton said, adding she hopes to have a clearer picture of the virus’s presence in Oregon within a week or two. OHA reports that there were 1,197 new cases, spread across 32 of Oregons 36 counties. They also said there were 31 new deaths from the virus. That brings the total number of deaths to 5,590 and the total number of cases to 409,232.Here’s the county by county breakdown of the newly reported cases:
Baker (11), Benton (19), Clackamas (120), Clatsop (9), Columbia (17), Coos (25), Crook (11), Curry (5), Deschutes (98), Douglas (27), Grant (9), Harney (3), Hood River (6), Jackson (73), Jefferson (6), Josephine (38), Klamath (18), Lake (2), Lane (106), Lincoln (4), Linn (52), Malheur (2), Marion (86), Morrow (8), Multnomah (253), Polk (22), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (13), Union (2), Wasco (4), Washington (122), Yamhill (20).
The state is bracing for a surge in cases and hospitalizations brought by the omicron variant, which spreads much faster than even delta and evades the immune system defenses developed through shots of the vaccine or a prior infection.
